Despite the present availability of curriculum materials of high quality for use with the inquiry approach of the new social studies, the pace of change is slow. This paper addresses itself to the unique problems of diffusion, adoption, and change in social studies, and with the principles and practices which can be applied to solve these problems. The first four chapters attempt: 1) to analyze some of the barriers to change in education in general and in social studies education particularly; 2) to summarize some of the relevant research concerning the problems and processes of change in education and in other areas; 3) to describe various change models and roles; and 4) to outline some strategies and techniques that might be used for bringing about diffusion and adoption of the new social studies. Chapter 5 presents an overview of some of the main types of change projects that have been carried out in the new social studies, and Chapter 6 describes one such project: the Social Studies Field Agent Training Program of Indiana University. The final chapter provides an annotated bibliography of some of the key sources on the process of change that might be of use to practitioners in the field of social studies education. (Author/KSM)

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